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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Volleyball Program Signs Four
April 25, 2002 | Volleyball
April 25, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University volleyball head coach Denise Van De Walle has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Emily Manser, Amber Mareski, Samantha Rennau and Taylor Twite will join the Falcons for the 2002-03 academic year.
"This is an outstanding recruiting class," said Van De Walle. "I couldn't be happier. The caliber of student-athlete that we are adding should keep us at the top.
"The trick will be to blend the seven returning players with these four new ones during the preseason. I am confident that, once the newcomers arrive and we start our two-a-day practices, we will be back to the same competitive level of this past fall."
Manser, a native of Westerville, Ohio, currently attends Westerville North High School. This fall, the 5-10 left-side hitter was named the District Player of the Year and earned All-Ohio Second-Team honors. She helped the Warriors to an 18-6 record and an Ohio Capital Conference co-championship for head coach Robin Sharps.
"I am thrilled to have Emily join our program," said Van De Walle. "She is a versatile athlete with a big jump and very good overall skills.
"She will bring great ball control to the left-side position. Once she learns the pace of the collegiate game, she will be outstanding."
Mareski, a native of St. Clair, Mich., will join BGSU after a year at St. Clair County CC. A setter, the 6-0 Mareski earned National All-Tournament Team honors in 2001. She prepped at St. Clair High School for coaches Chuck Weisner and Dani Meier. As a senior, she was the Macomb Area Conference MVP, helping the Saints to a 12-0 league record.
"Amber is a very good setter already," said Van De Walle. "Her size will be a tremendous asset for us in blocking and attacking the second ball.
"I look for Amber to challenge for a position right away. Having her in the gym will make our practices very competitive."
Rennau, a native of Washington, Ill., will join BGSU after two years at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Ill. She helped the Cougars to a 34-18 record and a trip to the NJCAA Division I national tournament last year.
"Sam already has two years of college volleyball behind her," said Van De Walle. "That was a big selling point to us.
"Her competitive style of play should make us better right away. She is very athletic and has the potential to start for us immediately."
Twite, a native of Lapeer, Mich., was a teammate of Mareski's at St. Clair County CC. A middle, she was a first-team All-American last fall, banging out a total of 830 kills. A graduate of Lapeer East High School, Twite earned all-state honors twice, and was an All-Flint Metro League First-Team pick as both a junior and senior for coach Dan Purvis, as the Eagles won the FML both years.
"The fact that Taylor has played with Amber already is a bonus for us," said Van De Walle. "Taylor is a solid 6-1. Her hitting and blocking skills will help us immediately.
"It will be nice to have her competitive nature in the gym. She has the potential to make an immediate impact."
The Falcons completed the 2001 season with an overall record of 21-8, and BGSU won the Mid-American Conference's East Division with a league ledger of 12-6. The Falcons have won 21 matches in each of the last three seasons, and BGSU has gone 63-29 (.685) during that time. The Falcons had six seniors on the 2001 squad.
BGSU VOLLEYBALL SIGNEES
Name Ht. Yr.# Pos. Hometown (Previous School[s]) Emily Manser 5-10 Fr. LS Westerville, Ohio (North) Amber Mareski 6-0 So. S St. Clair, Mich. (St. Clair) (St. Clair County CC) Samantha Rennau 5-10 Jr. LS Washington, Ill. (Washington) (Illinois Central College) Taylor Twite 6-1 So. M Lapeer, Mich. (East) (St. Clair County CC)# year of eligibility in 2002-03
